PR Tips Taken From Olivia Pope

Olivia Pope The fall season brings many gifts: crisp mornings, pumpkin spice everything, and the return of our favorite PR diva, Olivia Pope. She may be a fictional character, but there’s no denying her PR-guru status.  In celebration of Scandal’s return to our Thursday nights, we compiled 6 tips taken from the Pope & Associates PR handbook.
  1. Tell the truth. Always. - While her clients might be somewhat intimidating at times (we’re talking to you Russian mafia…) Olivia is always honest. In an industry that many associate with “spin,” integrity is key.
  2. Represent - Olivia acts as an extension of her clients to achieve premium results. While we may not be saving the country from political destruction (anytime soon), the same principal applies to every client relationship.
  3. Keep one eye on the media - Olivia is constantly watching the news and checking stories on her phone. This real life PR skill is not lost on us. Olivia knows that it’s always important to know the trends, breaking news and who is saying what!
  4. Build strong relationships - One word, gladiator. Olivia has earned respect and admiration from all her clients and peers. The ability to build and maintain strong relationships is one of the things we value most in PR.
  5. Confidence is key - There are three steps in the “Olivia Pope Guide to Being Confident.”
    • Be confident in your speaking ability. Whether she is talking to her employees, the White House media or international terrorist, Olivia Pope commands attention.
    • Be confident about your work. Olivia’s favorite sayings are “It’s handled” and “I always get it done.” She is confident about her work ethic, PR skills and ability to get results – and you should be too!
    • Be confident in your appearance. We’re not saying you need to run out and get Olivia’s Prada bag (we wish), but there is something to be said about dressing the part. The more confident you feel in your skin the more you will project that.
  6. Have your wine & drink it too - While Olivia has about 30 crises going on at a time, she always manages to curl up at the end of the night with popcorn and a giant glass of wine. Take time and relax. This will only make you more balanced and focused for your clients, work, and yourself.
Do you have any great PR tips you took from shows or movies? We would love to hear! Share with us on Facebook or Twitter.